Update from Playa + Winners and Losers

[0] I guess the best way to update this is to report on those 5 Goals from last post.....
1 (10% Body Fat) - Going Ok. I think I have lost a little weight, I am eating healthier[1], and am really active [2]. But I have lost a little focus and need to step it up if I want to accomplish this goal [3].
2 (Have Good Time) - I sure am, seeing new things and meeting some really nice people[4]. Enjoying the weather[5].
3 (Get a lot better at playing Poker) - I think so[6].
4 (Make money) - Failing. I have not made a penny and have spent quite a few.
5 (Become proficient in[7] Spanish) - Ah ...not actively trying to learn, but I am picking up a little bit and learning common phases. It would be easier if everyone didn't speak English.

Here's a simple thought that I had this morning on Winners and Losers in a competitive environment (ie small and mid-stakes online poker, but I think applies most places). I think that the two most important things that are overlooked when we see people as winners or losers in their fields are variance and small edges. Variance is everywhere we just don't like to see it because we don't understand it and can't make it fit into cause and affect story. Small edges are interesting because they are often mistaken for variance. And if someone is doing something just slightly better than others (in the right area), he could become the winner rather than the loser a large percentage of the time. He might not know why, others might attribute his winning to luck/variance, and it might be imperceptible to outsiders why he is a winner rather than a loser, but I suspect even having a razor thin edge in the right area[8] could separate winners from the losers.

Hope everyone is doing well at home. I am really looking forward to my parents coming to visit next week.

[0]- I am going to use end notes. I saw it in another blog (AEJones) and I liked it.
[1]- I am not really actively trying, but the environment that I am in has helped a lot I think.
[2]- On a good day I will run in the morning, lift around noon, and play tennis in the afternoon. On a bad day just play tennis and walk on the beach.
[3]- It is a bet as well as a goal. This should help with the motivation.
[4]- A man named Bugzy, was the most interesting character so far.
[5]- It's really crazy and sort of sad how much the weather affects (or effects, I don't know) your mood.
[6]- It is really hard to tell at this point. Both because I am not winning and because it is hard to be objective about those things
[7]- Is it "in Spanish" or "at Spanish"? My money is on at "at Spanish", I don't think you can be in a language.
[8]- How do you tell what the right area is? I think that for me as far as online poker goes the right areas might be intense focus while playing, actively trying to thinking objectively, and understanding my motivation for playing.

-Ted